Celtics drop fourth game in a row

Wednesday

Kyrie Irving scored 31 points, but the Celtics fell to 37-25 with a 97-92 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers Wednesday night.

BOSTON – They began February looking like a team that had finally found a groove after going through so many ups and downs.

The Celtics were in a stretch in which they won 10-of-11 games at the start of this month with the only loss coming against the champion Golden State Warriors.

But as February comes to a close, the Celtics are looking more like a team that is ripe for an early exit from the NBA playoffs this spring.

After going 0-3 with two blowout losses on a miserable road trip following the All-Star break, the Celtics returned home Wednesday night and remained on a downward spiral.

Their losing streak was extended to four games with a 97-92 defeat at the hands of the Portland Trail Blazers at the TD Garden to drop the Celtics to 37-25 with 20 games remaining on the regular-season schedule.

It is the Celtics’ first four-game losing streak since Jan. 16-24, 2018. when they went 0-4 after returning home from a game in London. They missed 23-of-28 shots from 3-point range, looking like a team that was pressing.

“We definitely were,’’ said Marcus Smart. “We wanted to win this one really bad. We were pressing, but that’s a good thing. I’ll take that any day, us trying to make plays for each other.’’

The poor shooting prevented the Celtics from overtaking the Trail Blazers, but coach Brad Stevens said he liked what he saw after his team was routed by the Raptors in Toronto 24 hours earlier.

“Today was good,’’ said Stevens of the effort level. “It (stinks) we didn’t shoot the ball well, but that’s part of it. You walk out of here a little bit more encouraged because the reason we lost, if anything, was we didn’t make shots.

“I think it was because we were pressing. I thought we were disappointed in ourselves. We looked like a team that really wanted tonight to go well and it didn’t. You’re going to have games like that. A lot more encouraged tonight than I was last night.’’

The Celtics led only once in the second half, moving in front at 44-43 less than a minute into the third quarter, and the Trail Blazers were ahead by as many as 12.

The Celtics made a bid in the fourth quarter, opening with a 10-2 run to get as close as 76-74 with 8:49 on a Jaylen Brown basket, but the Trail Blazers held on for the road win.

Since winning 10 times in 11 games from Jan. 16 to Feb. 5, the Celtics have now dropped six of eight games and are in fifth place in the Eastern Conference. Kyrie Irving didn’t sound worried as he spoke in a quiet Celtics’ locker room.

“It’s part of the NBA season,’’ said Irving of the losing streak. “I’ve been part of two organizations, one in Cleveland in 2017 where down the stretch, we lose a bunch of games in a row and end up sweeping the whole Eastern Conference (in the playoffs).

“I don’t think anybody in the Eastern Conference could really compete with us (this season) at a high level when we’re playing the way we’re supposed to be playing.’’

Irving led the Celtics with 31 points on 14 for 24 shooting. Jayson Tatum added 14, Smart and Al Horford scored 13 each and Brown had 10 points and 10 rebounds off the bench.

After making only 6-of-30 shots from 3-point range against the Toronto Raptors Tuesday night, the Celtics went 5 for 28 against the Trail Blazers from long range.

Damian Lillard had 33 points to lead Portland.

The Celtics went on an 11-3 run with time running out to get within 95-92 on an Irving 3-pointer with 25.3 seconds left, but Lillard hit two foul shots with 11.8 seconds remaining to seal the Trail Blazers’ win.

The Celtics trailed by as many as nine points during the first quarter with Lillard scoring 10 points for the Trail Blazers.

But the Celtics scored seven points in a row down the stretch to help get them within 25-24 going into the second quarter. Irving had two baskets in that stretch, including a 3-pointer with 14.6 seconds to go.

The teams struggled offensively in the second quarter, scoring 18 points apiece, and the Trail Blazers had a 43-42 lead at halftime.

The Celtics were behind by seven before ending the half on a 10-4 run with Marcus Morris scoring six of the points.

The Trail Blazers were in the lead despite shooting just 36 percent from the field and missing 15-of-19 shots from 3-point range. The Celtics missed 11 of their 13 3-pointers, getting only one each from Irving and Horford.

The Celtics found themselves down by as many as 12 points in the third quarter when Lillard scored 15 of his points, including a driving layup just before the buzzer to give Portland a 74-64 lead.

The second half began with the Celtics taking a 44-43 lead on an Irving turnaround, but the Trail Blazers went on a 19-6 run to take a 62-50 lead midway through the third quarter.

The Celtics would get no closer than seven the rest of the quarter despite nine points from Irving.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.